AUSTRALIAN GOBIID^ McCULLOCIJ AND OGILBY. 263 



Valenciennea longipinnis, Bennett. 



Eleotris longipinnis, Bennett, Voy. " Blossom", Zool., 1839, p. 64, pi. xx., 



fig. 3. LI, Giinther, Brit. Mus. Cat. Fish., iii., 1861, p. 105, f. n., and 



Fische Siidsee, vi., 1877, p. 190. 

 Valenciennea longipinnis, Waite, Rec. Austr. Mus., iv., 1902, p. 271, pi. 



xliii. Id., Jordan & Seale, Bull. U.S. Fish. Bureau, xxv., 1906, p. 382. 

 Valenciennesia longipinnis, Bleeker, Versl. Akad. Amsterdam (2), xi., 1877, 



p. 93. 

 Eleotris strigata, Thiollier, Ann. Agric. Soc. Lyon, viii., 1856, p. 188 (not 



E. strigata, Cuv. & Val. — fide Bleeker). 

 Eleotris ilceineur (Montrouzier), Tliiollier, Ihid. 

 Eleotris taniiura, Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.Wales, v., 1881, p. 624. 



D. vi/13 ; A. 13; P. 21 ; Y. i/5 ; 0. 15. About 112 rows of scales 

 from above the pectoral base to the hypural joint, and about 40 between 

 the anterior dorsal and anal rays. 



Depth 54 in the length to the hypural joint; head 36 in the same. 

 Eye 5"1 in the head, and 1"8 in the snout, which is 28 in the head. Inter- 

 ocular space 1*2 in the eye. Depth of caudal peduncle 23, fourth dorsal 

 spine 1"3 in the head. Median caudal rays 07 longer than the head. 



Form and structural details almost exactly similar to those of V. 

 muralis, but the anterior dorsal fin is rounded, the third ray being not 

 longer than those on either side of it ; the median caudal and posterior 

 dorsal and anal rays are more produced, and the scales appear somewhat 

 smaller. 



Colour. — Pale brown in formaline, becoming white below, with four 

 narrow longitudinal bands which are similar to, but less distinct than 

 those of V. muralis. Nape and back with ten dusky cross-bars ; sides 

 with five bands which terminate in large ocelli on the lower longitudinal 

 band. Cheek and operculum with three horizontal blue bars with dark 

 edges, and some large blue spots ; snout dusky, with blue bars and spots. 

 First dorsal with about six oblique, dark-edged stripes, and a dusky spot 

 behind the fourth spine. Second dorsal with about four rows of blue 

 ocelli between the rays. Anal with a light, dark-edged band near its base. 

 Caudal with large, inter-radial ocelli and bars, and broad dusky margins. 

 Pectorals and ventrals plain (for the colours of a fresh specimen, see 

 Waite, Loc. cit.). 



Described from a specimen 170 mm. long. Four others, 80-160 mm. 

 long show some variation in the intensity and extent of their colour- 

 marking, which, however, is similarly arranged in all. They differ from 

 V. muralis in having the longitudinal bands less distinct, and in the 

 possession of five well defined cross-bars and ocelli on the sides. 



Synonymjj. — The holotype of Eleotris tivniura, Macleay, 117 mm. long, 

 is very faded, but clearly shows the characteristic lateral ocelli and blue 

 bars on the cheeks and opercles. It is certainly identical with the species 

 described above. 



Locs. — Specimens are in the Australian Museum from Green Island, 

 near Cairns, and Masthead Island, off Port Curtis, Queensland. Macleay's 

 specimen was collected at Low Island, near Cooktown. 



Hah. — Riu Kiu Islands to the East Indies, Fiji, and Queensland. 



